Policy Statement on Fad Diets

5th National Conference of Nutrition Action Officers 23 August 2018

Any dietary regimen or practice promoted for weight loss and improvement of health that What are does not form part of Fad Diets? standard dietetic-led weight management advice Makes dramatic Promise of rapid claims that are not Nutritionally weight loss supported by imbalanced evidence (>1 kg/week)

Does not include Provides no health Based on improvement in warning to those anecdotal health and with pre-existing evidence and/or exercise medical conditions testimonials

Characteristics of a Fad Diet Classifications of Fad Diets

CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES Calorie Restriction Very Low Energy Diet (VLED), Military Diet, Blood type/Cohen, HCG Diet Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Atkin’s Diet, Paleo Diet

Moderate Carbohydrate, Zone Diet, South Beach Diet High Protein Low Carbohydrate, High Fat Ketogenic Diet

Avoidance to certain food groups Gluten Free, Macrobiotic Diet Fasting Intermittent Fasting, Water Fasting

Detox Juice Fast, Master Cleanse

Overweight by age/population group

40 Under-five 5-10 y/o

10.08-19 years old ≥20 years old 31.1 31.1 30 28.4 Lactating women 26.6 24

20

10 8.3 9.2 6.1 6.1 6.7 4.9 0 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Source. National Nutrition Surveys. Food and Nutrition Research Institute, DOST

Positive Effects and Advantages of Certain Fad Diets

1 2 3 4

Rapid and Counters Choice for Some substantial “diet a weight studies weight loss fatigue” loss back up strategy claims Short-term success, Nutritionally long-term failure imbalanced

Poor diet adherence Negative Induce stress and and long-term cause disease to Impact of behavior certain organs Fad Diets modification

Lack focus on the Psychological importance of implications health and PA Recommendations for Weight Loss • Weight loss requires an individualized and interdisciplinary approach • Combination of consumption of healthy diet, physical activity, and behavior modification DIET • Nutritionally Adequate • Moderation + Variety + Balance + Proportionality • Limit intake of processed foods, trans fat, free sugars • Ecological and Sustainable

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY • 150 mins moderate-intensity, 75 mins vigorous-intensity PA in a week (WHO) • Includes muscle-strengthening activities at least 2x a week • Expend 300 kcal/session (PASOO)

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATIONS • Effective behavioral strategies for weight loss Complementation with Population- population-based interventions based approaches to to promote healthier food address environments, food systems overweight and obesity and behavior-change communication Timeline of activities

27 Mar 7 May 11 June Approved 2018 2018 2018 First Conduct of Second Dissemination presentation to Consultation Presentation to of Policy NNC Technical Meeting with NNC Technical Statement on Committee Experts Committee Fad Diets

21 June Revisions on First Revisions on Draft Second Draft 2018 April 8 May – 10 Approved by the GB 2018 June 2018 Fad diets are not recommended for weight loss as it may pose potential health risk and dangers. Instead, the Policy Statement NNC recommends the adherence to on a holistic, sustainable, adequate Fad Diets and nutritionally-balanced diet, complemented by an active lifestyle and lifelong behavioral modifications. It is also the position of the NNC that individual efforts to address overweight and obesity must be complemented with population- Policy based interventions, particularly on Statement the promotion of healthier food on environments, food systems and Fad Diets public awareness through behavior-change communications, to prevent further increase in overweight and obesity prevalence in the country. 1. Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians 2.Local health and nutrition Dissemination of the workers Policy 3. Associations, organizations, and Statement on other stakeholders related to Fad Diets with nutrition, health, and fitness monitoring and reporting to 4.Academe in Nutrition and NNC Dietetics, medical and allied fields Governing 5. General public (publication in Board major dailies, websites and social media) 1. Be familiar with the policy statement for consistency in Actions of messages NAOs 2. Help disseminate the Policy Statement to your constituents